Written by Dave Clements

Several months ago, I applied for credentials to photograph and review the Steely Dan featuring Steve Winwood Show at the Woodland’s Pavilion.
I would be lying if I didn’t mention that the primary reason I wanted to see the show was Steve Winwood. I love his voice and his music is second to not many in the Classic Rock genre – in my humble opinion.
I did not hear from the promoters until the late afternoon the day of the show that I was finally approved to shoot the concert. It was then I read that Steely Dan would be going on at 845 pm and at 730 pm preceding them would be Snarky Puppy….???!

Could it be that Winwood was now performing under the name Snarky Puppy?…darn I hope so, I said to myself.
Quickly I went to my cell phone and Googled Snarky Puppy…no Steve Winwood in their lineup!!
What pray tell happened to Steve? What did I miss?

It seems that when this Steely Dan Tour (Earth After Hours) was rescheduled as a result of COVID Mr. Winwood was dropped for ‘unforeseen circumstances’ (whatever that means).
I sure hope that the unforeseen circumstances had nothing to do with Steve’s health. Steve is 74.
Maybe Fagan felt like Steve was ‘too good’ to be the tour opener? I hope that wasn’t the reason EITHER.

Donald Fagan and his band mates (even without the departed Walter Becker who we lost in 2017) have an outstanding band and one that can’t hold their own with the finest in the business.
They sure did last night playing a nineteen-song set list that included ‘the best of Steely Dan’…Black Friday, Aja, Kid Charlemagne, Babylon Sisters, Rikki Don’t Lose That Number, Peg, My Old School, then closing with Reelin’ in the Years.

Fagan brought nine world class musicians and three back-up singers with him to The Woodlands who were able to replicate the studio sounds of the band with precision and what more could a ticketholder want?
Answer…Steely Dan and Steve Winwood. And no one who object if you threw in a Snarky Puppy! They did a very nice job and respectfully eleven out of every ten times I would have taken Winwood over Snarky Puppy…but I think you get that by now!

What do you think…? Until next time support live music every chance you have!